24 December 2023 , 00:01
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Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez gives a sweet insight into his Christmas with his family on Lorraine's upcoming festive special.
Host Lorraine Kelly is airing a one-hour show on Christmas Day, which includes guests Gorka, 33, and his Strictly Christmas special partner Keisha Buchanan. Speaking to Lorraine, 64, ahead of the Christmas special, Sugababes icon Keisha, 39, explains she had just two days of rehearsals to learn the dance. The singer admits: "It was definitely much more difficult than I thought, but I had so much fun!"
To which pro partner Gorka adds: "She’s a superstar. She came with such a positive energy, was willing to learn and we had fun. The Christmas special is about bringing joy to everyone at home. It’s bringing the magic of Strictly on the most wonderful day of the year, which is Christmas. Everyone’s at home with their families and loved ones, so Strictly is part of everybody."
Gorka Marquez appears via video on Lorraine's Christmas Day special (ITV)Keisha also reveals that her Sugababes bandmates supported her on the show, saying: "They could tell I was nervous, they gave me a bit of a fist pump before I started. It’s our thing we do before the start of every show." And it's not long until talk turns to Christmas as Gorka gives an insight into his family plans with partner Gemma Atkinson and their two children daughter Mia, four, and baby son Thiago.
He gushes: "The whole morning is opening presents, playing with new toys. I love the fact we open a present and it’s the most exciting present but five seconds later, there’s a new present, which is even more exciting, especially Mia."
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Gorka sweetly adds: "She’s four and she opens presents and leaves everything around and me behind her picking up all the wrapping paper and putting it in a bag. I’m very excited to spend Christmas all together with the family and celebrate and have the best time. Mia is a showgirl, she loves to perform for everybody so she will be singing and dancing. I will be dancing with her, not Gemma."
Also on the show is Graham Norton, Boy George, Joel Dommett, Matt Lucas, and the Duchess of York, who all send Christmas messages. Elsewhere, Stephen Fry reads a festive poem and Lorraine is joined by her ITV team - Ross King,Ria Hebden, Dr Hilary Jones and Mark Heyes.Joss Stone and the Lorraine's Change and Check Choir also perform their chart-topping song Golden.